Cake, Cookie or Pie?

Our new Red Velvet Whoopie Pie is a tasty treat filled with cream cheese frosting and topped with hand piped chocolate drizzle. But what is it exactly: a cake, cookie or pie?

The debate over whoopie pie’s identity has been going on long enough! I asked several Starbucks food experts to plead their case.

Stephanie S., senior food content writerSure, these delicious treats are often made from leftover cake batter. And there’s no arguing they consist of a sweet, creamy filling lavished between two soft cookies. But in reality, they exemplify the very essence of pie: two crusts with filling in between. As far back as the ancient Egyptians, sailors were loading their ships with these goodies before heading out to sea. They’re easy to store and easy to eat. And because they’re so irresistible, many sailors chose whoopie pies over being wooed to their death by the Siren’s call. Legend even has it that five well-preserved whoopie pies were discovered in the tomb of King Tut.”

Ed H., food product development manager“This really is not a debate, this is clearly a cake. The BIA (Bakery Intelligence Agency) has uncovered the following facts: First, cookies are primarily produced using non-flowable, moldable dough. Cookie dough is then molded, extruded, sheeted or pressed into their desired shape. Second, pie is also crafted from non flowable, moldable dough sheeted or pressed into their desired shape. Once again, clearly a dough. Third, cake batter flows and its shape is formed by the shape of the pan. (Try baking a cake at home, it works!) Since the best part of the whoopie pie is the two moist red velvet cakes baked from a flowable batter, it is clearly and undisputedly a cake.”

Spencer W., senior food product developer“Technically speaking the whoopie pie is actually a sandwich cookie. We use the same bakery pans for small cookies that we use to bake the red velvet whoopie pie. Additionally, the tasty cream cheese frosting is on the inside, and it is well known cakes are frosted on the outside. Most notably, my most honest food critic – my six-year-old son – immediately called it a cookie. Just by looking at the treat, most people’s first reaction is that’s a little cookie sandwich. So there.”